Every day is a chance to reflect.


Via.

As we collectively stand here facing day whatever of the shelter in place order, I still feel good, as do I hope this here readership does as well.

Never before have I been so committed to taking life a minute, hour, or day at a time, but at this stage in the game, (besides getting outside and playing in whatever capacity I can find), that directive might very well be the thing that’s keeping me afloat.

Certainly nothing will let the air out of one’s proverbial ties more than hearing that the homies at Lyons Colorado’s Redstone Cyclery were victims of an epic smash and grab over the weekend;

Needless to say, shop owner Dave is not stoked;

Please be on the lookout for a a slightly used Intense Primer S Pro large grey mullet bike with Oddity bars, a slightly used small Primer 275 Pro small blue, a new Primer 29 expert in red, a grey YT Jeffsey XTR xl, and a Santa Cruz orange Nomad with a blown rear shock.

Should you come across an individual in possession of any of these bikes, feel free to wind up and deliver an express knuckle sandwich.

In happier news, from my overlords at the Shimano Gravel factory (who, I’d like to note just set me up with the spankiest of spanky new GRX wheel set for my Blue Collar dirt road bike);

-I received a request to push the following video towards any interested eyeballs featuring that fella called Jake Wells;

A few points of note that occurred to me while watching this-

The scenery is beautiful, and makes me long for expansive open spaces, and the deafening sound of nothing. It also adds to my regret that I will miss the opportunity to have my own Dirty Kanza experience this year. Alas, I’m in the queue for next year, so I just gotta maintain some semblance of fitness, and I reckon I’ll be ok.

Certainly I tend to eschew what I perceive as banalities such as nutrition, and the science behind sustaining physical exertion. I also recognize that I do this to my own detriment, and have for years. I try to be better about it, but certainly (for example) listening to Dr. Black (the guy in the video, yo) describe carb intake was super fascinating to me, and helps me remember that even on a small ride, a consistent schedule of nutrition and hydration is of vital importance.

And beyond that, Jake’s own words resonate on a more personal level- “Maybe I’m over romanticizing what the suffering is all about- For me, doing these big epic events is such a strong way to connect to life, and to connect to humanity, and to connect to other humans, that it’s teaching you about yourself. I think it’s teaching you how to be better towards everyone else around you.”

If you don’t care to sit through it (but really, what else do you have to do today?), then just watch the last couple of minutes. Wise words indeed.

I don’t know if anyone will take my perspective seriously, since technically I’m on Shimano’s dole, but I sincerely appreciate the amount of effort they’ve put into gravel as a discipline, and I very much enjoyed the entirety of both this video, and the message it conveys.

Moving on to other topics regarding conveying messages, though in this respect, perhaps not such a positive one- I’d like to note that I’ve just received a whole new batch of stickers in the mail, and have them in the store now;

If you’d like these, or any of the others I have sitting in a box on the floor to the left of my desk;

All you have to do is say so.

And for those who have reached out and asked about the AHTBM Thrøw Rägh– Those are but a week away from being back in stock;

As one might guess, my bandana vendor is busier than a one legged bee at an ass kicking contest (combining my metaphors) but are coming through for us in the clutch.

They said they’d be shipping them to me on the fifth of May, so they should be back in the store by the week’s end.

Finally, it was a couple of weeks ago when my homie Kevin from The Good Problem asked if I’d be willing to assemble a selection of music for a Good Problem compilation, which I did with quickness;

Photo by Scott Zorn.

If you’d like to check it out, it can be found here.

It’s an honor to be included with such luminaries as Grosso, Cardiel, and Guerrero, and I appreciate the consideration;

It’s almost guaranteed to be better than Freedom Rock™.

Now that we’ve covered all of them bases, I suppose all that’s left to do is to reflect on that which we’re thankful for, and then stare deeply into some shiny balls.

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10 Responses to “Every day is a chance to reflect.”

  1. Devin Curran April 28, 2020 at 5:27 am #

    Grateful ???

  2. Gripsgirl April 28, 2020 at 5:47 am #

    Loved the video!!! Very cool

  3. QuinT April 28, 2020 at 9:06 am #

    Still trying to read the words ‘gravel as a discipline’ without feeling loss.

    • Stevil April 28, 2020 at 6:11 pm #

      I meant it as in ‘a field of study, or engagement’.

  4. dirty April 28, 2020 at 11:03 am #

    When can we expect the “Val Kilmer Doesn’t Believe in Death” stickers?!

  5. blacksocks April 28, 2020 at 11:33 am #

    The Good Problem is so good. Grateful for that. Also, nice form on that grind…

  6. Dnugz April 29, 2020 at 5:12 am #

    I have my period rn

  7. pqb April 29, 2020 at 8:17 pm #

    …ahtbm face masks?

    • Stevil April 30, 2020 at 8:04 am #

      Making a pattern would be easy. Finding a sew shop who is currently operational would be the hard part.

      • GeWilli April 30, 2020 at 5:38 pm #

        oooo – just some bulk fabric for DIY mofos who have a sewing machine? sell it by the yard or something – (just tossing it out there to consider)